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Five Ten's New Freerider Pro Mid Shoes Ditch the Laces – Sea Otter 2021

Oct 8, 2021
by Mike Kazimer  
photo

The world of mountain bike footwear is a funny one. No matter what a new shoe looks like, someone will say they love it, and someone else will say they wouldn't wear it unless they were 80-years-old and blind. Five Ten's new Freerider Pro Mid shoes are sure to be another polarizing options, thanks to the fact that they use three hook-and-loop straps rather than laces or a ratcheting dial system to adjust the fit.

Personally, I care waaay more about function over fashion, and on paper this new model ticks pretty much all of the boxes when it comes to what I'm looking for in a flat pedal shoe. When I reviewed the original Freerider Pro a few years ago I wrote, “If I had one request, it would be for a mid-top version of this exact shoe, or at least one with an asymmetrical cuff that extended over my inner ankle bone...” That wish has been granted, thanks to a stretchy upper cuff that has a piece of D3O's impact resistant material sewn in to protect inner ankle bones.

photo
A piece of D3O helps provide ankle protection.
photo
There's no need for a laces cover when there aren't any laces...

The sock-like fit of the Primeknit cuff should help keep dirt and sand out, and provide an extra bit of protection on wet weather rides. The three hook-and-loop straps were inspired by the Freerider VCS kids shoes – riders kept asking for an adult version, so Five Ten went ahead and did just that, with a few extra features thrown in for good measure.

The lower portion of the shoe is nearly identical to the original Freerider Pro. Five Ten's sticky Stealth S1 Dotty rubber is used for the sole, which is sewn around the reinforced toe box area to help prevent delamination.

The shoes are now available in select markets for $180 USD. Once I get my feet into a pair we'll see how they hold up to a wet and muddy Pacific Northwest winter.

Five Ten Freerider Pro Mid
A stretchy Primeknit cuff gives the shoes their 'Mid' designation.
Five Ten Freerider Mid
Five Ten's Stealth S1 rubber provides the grip.







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163 Comments
  • 152 6
 geriatric bike shoes for the people who retire from ews after retiring from dh?
  • 7 3
 This is so good !
  • 10 12
 but it says free ride, so you're "supposedly" cool if you use them... Not even my grandma would use these... Bring the old freeride 5.10's back !
  • 15 2
 So does that make them e-enduro compatible?
  • 6 2
 @PhillipJ: should be the 5-10 ERider
  • 11 0
 @Gilmarques: Honestly all I really want is for the freeride elc to return. Lace covers and crazy colors.
  • 1 1
 @adrennan: haha! Underrated comment
  • 5 0
 I wonder if they make them with a white gaiter to match my socks.
  • 2 1
 @reed81: they need to buy up new balance for the sickest bike shoe branding in the retirement home
  • 1 0
 @reed81: White knee high gaiters. then ship them with a pair of short Adidas shorts so we can look like 70's basketball players riding our bikes.
  • 1 0
 Have we met? That describes me perfectly and I like these shoes.
  • 1 0
 And please make your shoes in sizes that fit bigger people, never been able to use 5.10 as they are all too small. Pretty much every other manufacturer goes upto size 49.
  • 98 1
 I'll admit it, I want them. They are ugly AF, but pretty much exactly what I want in terms of function.
  • 16 4
 Until that Velcro stops working as it does with the conditions they are subject too. I love the RC Velcro that keeps the laces down but after a full season the Velcro is useless.
  • 6 19
flag CSharp (Oct 8, 2021 at 13:41) (Below Threshold)
 Rubber boots will also work fine - better looking than these mofos!
  • 5 0
 @abueno: I've got an ancient pair of specialized xc shoes with triple velcro like this, and it still works fine. However, I'm not sure I could face wearing these unless they were covered in so much mud you couldn't see them.
  • 28 1
 @CSharp, where can I get rubber boots with Stealth rubber soles?
  • 6 1
 @abueno: Can't be any worse than the current laces, they become untied too easily.
  • 4 1
 At first I thought it was a winter shoe with a Goretex liner and wondered why they used velcro straps and not a single full wrap like Shimano. Then I realized the Freeride generation is now in a nursing home. Well played Five Ten, well played.
  • 1 1
 @mikekazimer: Get some wellies and then call up rmresole.com to get them resoled with Vibram Dot Rubber
  • 6 0
 @rustiegrizwold: This shoelace knot changed my life (not hyperbole). It took me a week or so until it was automatic and now I don't even think about it: www.fieggen.com/shoelace/secureknot.htm
  • 3 0
 @abueno: There's good and bad velcro, I bought Ion shorts and pads where the velcro lasted 6 months, but on other gear it can last many years. Hopefully Adidas uses the good stuff on these!
  • 6 0
 I own these and they are amazing and with Pants actually look really good IMO. The velcro allows you to control your pressure points much more easily. Just have to see how long they last.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: I thought I saw some fishing wading boots with Stealth soles. I thought Simms but their current line up doesn't use Stealth.
  • 4 0
 @dolface: been running this knot for half a decade. Canadian military teaches this knot. Dance floor approved!
  • 1 0
 @abueno: Wonder what size shoe I need to buy, same size as my other 510 or size bigger?
  • 3 0
 I don't think they are that ugly. I kind of like the look. Lol.
  • 1 0
 @abueno: I wonder what you're talking about. Velcro doesn't fail, it's actually the only reliable retention system.
  • 1 0
 @DavidGuerra: Not once it gets covered in mud!
  • 1 0
 @aljoburr: What do you mean? Once it's velcro'ed no mud gets in.
  • 4 0
 @DavidGuerra: A Portoguese arguing with a Scotsman about mud. Funny.
  • 33 5
 There you go, you nerds. Finally the shoe you've been looking for because laces were too hard.

"Watch this Bro-bro, if I get too far away from my TRD Pro then my ankle bracelet goes off. All the girls with arrow tattoos who moved here from the suburbs are gonna love this shit"
  • 17 4
 I don't understand the complaints about laces. Just tuck them under one of the laces crossing over the tongue. I literally never have shoes come untied and rarely have to deal with loose lace ends.
  • 4 0
 @jeremy3220:
Many people actually tie their shoelaces the wrong way (such that they loosen themselves):
youtu.be/tT2XiPgiZK8
  • 3 0
 @Aptlynamed: clicked on expecting a Rick roll, left with my mind blown.
  • 2 2
 @jeremy3220: because some of us just leave them kinda loose so you can just slip them on and off instead of having to tie up everytime and makes having laces redundant. Velcro makes it so I can actually have snug fitting shoes without untying and tieing up my shoes every ride.
  • 1 0
 @ihatetomatoes: your username should be I hatemyshoes lol
  • 14 0
 YES! That's getting better 5.10! Purely functional for those that still "freeride".
1.Black,
2.Inner ankle protection (yet to be tested though),
3. 5.10 rubber....nuff said.
Only feedback; why not use just one big velcro cover like the Raven's? Flexion of the foot never seemed to be an issue when wearing the Raven's or the Karver's, so I don't think a full cover would affect it?
Extension (or hyper extension) of the foot from landings is really the challenge and creating a mid sole that is maybe a half shank to support half the foot hanging off the back of the pedal, would be nice.
Interesting take on the soccer boot look for the ankles, but I guess that's Adidas' influence coming through?
Will definitely consider getting a pair of these!
  • 2 0
 Been running that inner ankle protection on then5.10 trailcrosss and the of adidas trailcross protect…can say it’s stout
  • 4 0
 Ok but why cant we get outer ankle protection....for like rocks and shit
  • 3 0
 @me2menow: I think they tried to cover that with the Impact Pro Mid
  • 3 0
 @me2menow: I get ankle protection for rocks, but....?
  • 11 1
 Wow - the 80's all over again - again.

5-10 lost me when I dropped $170 on their Mid-Cross Trail shoes which, after unstitching at the top & losing some D-30 padding after just 6-8 weeks, I was told "that's just normal wear & tear... no warranty". Wow - I hadn't even started pummeling them yet. Individual shoes can have flaws -understood - but $170 on their top of the line gear only to find they could give a shit and don't even support their product - well, that's how to lose my biz forever. Have already bought 2 new pairs Ride Concepts Powerlines since & love those so - seeya 5-10...you're a buncha greedy a*sholes.

To be fair to the greedy a*sholes - my 3 (or 4?) yr old pair of $100 free-riders are doing just fine & I'll wear til they die, but - that'll do it for me for the Death Star of MTB Shoes
  • 5 0
 i just noticed RC has lowered prices on their site now. $105 Hellion Elites, $113 Powerlines!
  • 3 0
 Wish they'd bring back the Mi6 compound as well. Have Freerider on both S1 and Mi6 and there is a pretty big difference in grip.
  • 1 0
 Tops of my freerider pros look good still but the rubber sole has worn through - i see why now - it's less than 1mm thick (between the dots). My older freeriders fell apart long before the sole.
  • 1 0
 @mikeb: Be careful if you order another pair as they‘ve altered their sizing. My final pair of Freerider Pros caused me serious pain as they‘re basically triangular
  • 10 0
 Have you seen my baseball?
  • 3 1
 FRANK & BEANS!!!!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 HE WAS MASTERBATING!!
  • 10 2
 Should I be concerned that my family scheduled a appointment for Alzheimer’s screening for me, based solely on my gravity MTB shoes?
  • 1 0
 Be more concerned that your grandfather gets asked if he got equipped to go downhilling.
  • 4 0
 This is a great step forward. In a few years, extensive user testing will indicate that most users of this shoe prefer it for winter riding. After five years of user interviews, in 2028, Fiveten will integrate the three velcro straps into two velcro straps. Then, in 2035, an intern doing data recovery will discover the plans for the Freerider ELC, an ancient design intentionally sabotaged by horrible colorways from 2016, and release it to his superiors as the Freerider 2040. After eight years of production delays, the Freerider ELC will return as the Freerider Forever, powering ebikers in their excursions across antarctica, the last singletrack left after global warming melts the earth.
  • 5 1
 Is 5-10 ever gonna do a BoA shoe? Have they done one? I just ordered normal Freeriders to replace my trusty Vans. As cool as these are, I don't want velcro. A durable (and ideally replaceable?) BoA system would be great for the mud and the wet, when laces and velcro start struggling.

All the BoA shoes I see are clipless. Which makes sense, I get it. But at least one model for flats would be rad.
  • 1 0
 @aaron270: omg they're actually in stock! thank you. if my 5-10s dont work out I might pucker up and pay 110. wonder what shipping will be. price is makin my wallet quiver
  • 2 0
 @aaron270: Pearl Izumi BOA flat models look nice and the BOA system is good so far. However, the Goodyear chevron soles don't hold a candle to 5.10 Stealth. I wish they used the thicker soles found on the Adidas Trail Cross models.
  • 3 0
 Crank Brothers has a flat boa shoe
  • 2 0
 I’ve got the Scott boa shoes. They’re pretty good. I’m not sure I prefer boa to laces on flats. I’ve only got about 400km on them so far. They’re holding up well when 5.10’s would be falling apart by now. Grip is decent. I would buy them again with laces I think. My next set of shoes will be unparalleled unless I find something super discounted.
  • 2 0
 They did, kestrel boa
  • 1 0
 @kiddlivid: Not seeing a flats version.
  • 1 0
 @pisgahgnar: Those look pretty dope. These prices, not to my surprise, are brain meltin. Dropping under a 100 on 5-10s was a big decision for me lol. Only did it because Vans thinks they can change 75-100 for their normal shoes now :/
  • 2 0
 @aaron270: I ride the Pearl mid height with Boa lacing, it’s a good shoe, but the sole is not the stickiest; the sole has been durable.
  • 4 0
 I have these shoes and they are awesome. I did not think I needed the ankle boot until I rode without and noticed all the debris in my shoe. Also the Velcro works great. It is one of those things that you don’t realize how much better it is until after you try it.
  • 1 0
 Just bought these today. My lbs gives me a discount and I had credit from some returns. I'll use them mostly for winter gravel and fatbike.
  • 2 0
 @Brazinsteel: I bet they will be great for that. The show is a bit warm but they are not waterproof. With the Velcro, there is enough adjustment to run winter socks in them though. I’m super happy with them!
  • 2 0
 @randyridesbikes: Warm is more important to me than water proof. I've ridden in snow with my old 5.10,s and my feet stayed mostly warm and dry. Mostly. I'm stoked to try them. I got them a half size larger for the thicker wool socks. I think I'll like them. Really like my old ones.
  • 4 0
 Do people really hit their ankles side-on like that, from the inside? I sprained an ankle a few months ago and it's been miserable, but I don't think this sort of thing would have helped.
  • 5 0
 Pedal stances are really weird, I rub cranks but almost never chain stays, yet the big issue for most people is rubbed chain stays.
  • 2 0
 good question. let me answer. yes. I slipped a pedal at Snowshoe on a landing while hauling ass. Some fucking how, my right foot went back and got wedged between the seat post and my very fast spinning tire. Bent backwards, wrapped around the seat post, and totally stuck. Burnt a huge hole in my ankle. Took me a bit come to a stop with out crashing while my foot was stuck behind me and just getting burned by the rear tire. Burned through sock and very nearly to the bone. No shit. Anyway, that injury was nasty and took 4 weeks to close up and heal. Other than just not doing that again, I would say yes, a little extra heel protection could, maybe be a good thing. After that, I may buy these shoes regardless how dumb they look.
  • 2 0
 Wait.... You've never clanged your ankles on a rock or crank? It is literally the most painful thing ever..... You can buy ankle protection that goes under socks. I went riding recently with the 5.10 sleuths and struck a large rock slidden boulder head on with my toes... I will never ride with shoes that don't have a toebox.
  • 1 0
 i got 6 staples in my ankle from sliding out in a berm and getting ripped open by my pedal. nice 4 mile hike back to the van.
  • 1 0
 I have pretty severe duck stance. My ankles rub on the cranks pretty much permanently whilst riding. All my cranks are shiny and chrome. Riding without inner ankle protection is just horrible and I end up positioning my feet half off the pedals to avoid my ankle bone repeatedly bouncing off the crank arm.
  • 3 0
 @kiksy: ride eternal, shiny and chrome.
  • 1 0
 Yup.

I ride mid height shoes with ankle protection (Pearl Izumi) and they have saved my ankles a few times.
  • 10 2
 god thats ugly
  • 4 0
 Awesome, now I can have velcro too and be all matching with my 7 year old! Jokes aside, I think these look pretty functional and when my current pros die I would buy them.
  • 3 0
 does the weird sock at the top change the fact that the sole rips off after 4 weeks of riding? three pairs deep, and they are all destroyed by my one-ups. completely delaminated.
  • 4 0
 I've had this too. Buy a can of 3M 90 spray adhesive. Clean off and spray both surfaces and give them around a minute before pressing together. This is the glue contractors use for countertops etc. We use it for auto headliners and it works really, really well on sole repair.
  • 3 0
 @ATXZJ: i switched to the specialized downhill shoe and haven't had this problem since. but this seems like a crafty idea to fix the old ones and use them for muddy days.
  • 1 0
 Never had that happen, and each pair I had lasted 3 yeare
  • 3 0
 @ATXZJ: there a marine silicone called 5200 and its perfect for fixing the holes that my one ups seem to make after 3-4 months. Its the tackiest silicone ive ever seen and takes roughly 24hrs to cure but its pretty awesome stuff i think its made by 3M
  • 1 0
 @nedsded: my last pair of Freerider vxi lasted almost 5 years without delaminating. Coat of 3M glue and good to go.
  • 1 0
 @Crankhed: thanks, I'll keep that in mind! What I liked about the 3M 90 is it's instant so by the time I load everything in the truck, the shoes are G2G
  • 1 0
 @ATXZJ: You’re suggesting I buy a shoe that falls apart and then repair it?

I’m gonna pass, I think I’ll buy shoes that don’t delam.

Thanks
  • 5 0
 takes a low cuff shoe and sews fabric around the top: "we have made a mid cuff shoe", no you haven't.
  • 3 1
 What’s as roomy as a freerider pro, as grippy as a freerider pro but has a sole that lasts longer than 9-12 months?

This is not a joke…. I’m sick of having perfectly good uppers with a shredded sole before a year is done.
  • 5 1
 This is how it goes with sticky rubber. If it lasted longer it wouldn't be as sticky. The old Contacts I think came with slightly less sticky and harder rubber and they made up for that with the treadless sole area, but no one bought them. Well, I did, and I'm still using my second pair since I burned through the sole on my Pros in like 1.5 seasons and the ELCs I got to replace them fit terribly: nothing like plain Freeriders of the same size and they aren't breaking in like Pros or Contacts did
  • 3 0
 Impact pros. I have both, the impacts have a deeper sole and degrade much slower. I have had a pair for nearly three years and they are wearing great. I have gone through 2 freerider pros in that same time. Side note, the impact pro pedaling stiffness does not degrade like the freerider pro.
  • 1 0
 Pearl Izumi mid, not as sticky as 5.10, but meets al your other requirements.

Keep in mind that sticky soles tend to wear faster and get pin holes easier.

It’s always gonna be a compromise.
  • 5 0
 Now all they need is the red LEDs under the heels that light up when you run!
  • 5 0
 Had a pair in the 80s when I was breakdancing
  • 1 0
 I have an older pair of Freerider pros that are extremely worn, no tread left but seem to grip much better than a 2 month old pair of freeriders. Do they use different compounds for higher end models? I've been told that 5-10 uses the same rubber compound across the board.
  • 1 0
 It may have changed with Adidas but there are multiple versions of Stealth rubber that they use(d)
  • 2 0
 My experience with Five Ten recently is that the quality is low. Not looking to bash them or collect downvotes or upvotes, it is just my experienced that they fall apart very quickly. I would never buy another set.
  • 1 0
 just got a new set of freerider mid eps off jenson. not near as heavy or high or as heavily padded on the ankles as the OG freerider mid, and without the crazy overpadded tongue, but i think they'll do just fine. never minded the laces.
  • 4 0
 Ill buy these when I retire.
  • 2 0
 Its so it will cover the socks when people wear those pants that are way too tight and way too short.....no one wants to see that Napoleon
  • 3 0
 Amen!
I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment, and they look pretty darn sick too!!
  • 4 0
 So velcro and a sock liner cost $60 more than laces?
  • 5 5
 Sure, ugly but most importantly not a mid. You can't put a sock on a slipper and call it a mid. For those of us that used to enjoy burning through Freerider High shoes, let's be honest we're just out of luck nowadays. I used to spend hundreds a year at 5-10 but this euro shit can get a lick of my sweaty nutsack.
  • 2 0
 Just keep the impact and freeride pro...quit trying to modernize and make us all look like we are dancers in a Michael Jackson video or Kanye west fan...shit
  • 4 0
 Only way I’m buying these is if they come in a baby shit brown version.
  • 1 0
 Don't care. 5.10 quality is so bad that even though they still have the best rubber and fit (for my duck feet) i just can't stand them. Shame on whoever is responsible for ruining what was the best shoes on the planet.
  • 1 0
 That Velcro sucks! That will fail before the shoes are worn out. Probably even before they are even bedded in.
Have the same stuff on a tail gate pad. It’s only 6 months old and it’s already useless.
  • 4 1
 Velcro and mud don't mix.
  • 3 0
 I think they look cool? Ok just me
  • 1 0
 That said, I prefer Shimano. Slightly less grippy rubber - that is easier to reposition on the pedals - but utterly bulletproof so far. But velcro is nice.
  • 2 0
 First riding up hills was too hard, so they put in motors. Now they’ve cancelled laces

What’s the world coming to?
  • 1 0
 I have a pair of the old school dirt bag velcro’s still kickin. Comfy as all hell, but struggled to get them tight enough for dirt jumping
  • 4 1
 Thank You Adidas for ruining a great shoe brand!
  • 1 2
 What the f*ck Adidas...Is Emo Hipster your demographic? A.K.A. fake hippies....you know who you are...Good luck selling this crap...the designer who thought these were inventive recycled retro for children duped your executives. One strap and laces would've sufficed.
  • 2 0
 Do they come with matching branded leg calipers?
  • 2 0
 Needs a velcro strap cover... c'mon five ten!
  • 2 0
 Adidas
  • 2 0
 does anyone actually like shoes with gaiters?
  • 1 0
 I do, some hike-a-bikes here are rough.
  • 2 0
 I happily use gaiters to avoid fine gravel from getting in my shoe. Though, I'd prefer a gaiter made of a fabric that doesn't collect so many fox tail spikes.
  • 1 0
 Do they need to go half way up the leg tho¿
  • 1 0
 @nojzilla: some of us have longer than 10 inch legs.
  • 2 1
 Looks like someone forgot to pull out their socks from the shoes! Bahahahaha!
  • 2 0
 Just bring back the old Impacts from the 2000s already…laces and all.
  • 2 0
 What ever happened to freerider CONTACTS?? BEST BIKE SHOE EVER!!!
  • 1 0
 Still not as geriatric looking as my sam hills. The velcro straps get them pretty close though
  • 2 0
 Looks like a 5 10 Blundstone.
  • 2 0
 Ah too late, I already bought Pearl Izumi X-Alp BOA flat pedal shoes.
  • 1 0
 I just got a pair of Pros but if the shop had this version I would have got them instead.
  • 1 0
 Yup, these will definitely not trap any sweat and heat in on a 97 degree day.
  • 1 0
 We should probably put grandpa's shoes back in the closet before he finds out.
  • 1 0
 Im gonna have to try some Sam Hill edition 5/10’s
nxt go round at least look like they’ll last a little longer
  • 2 0
 They sure do They are incredibly well built compared to all the other models. They are still built how the old pairs were
  • 1 0
 @stormracing: good to know. I'm getting to the point of ditching 5.10 due to uppers failing but the rubber is still the best.
  • 1 0
 What about outer ankle bone protection? Don't they have feelings too? Why do Five Ten hate them so much?
  • 1 0
 How about a quality gore tex hiking boot with a flat pedal sole? Too much to ask?
  • 1 0
 If I ever saw a pair, I would at least try them on.
  • 1 0
 Michael j fox Back to the future
  • 2 0
 ... ... what are they
  • 1 1
 Ugly but I am sure you'd get used to it. It does check all the boxes besides the heckling from friends.
  • 1 0
 Remember folks, the Semenuk pro exists...
  • 1 0
 i have a pair of semenuks from a rep, rode them last year. the plastic on the inner ankle is awesome, but doesn't go high enough and they're actually still kinda slippery. i went with a pair of freerider mid eps again after, just for the grip and ankle protection. the semenuks look sick though
  • 1 0
 Congrats 5.10 on being the first shoe to have built in socks
  • 1 0
 just when you think it couldnt get worse
  • 1 0
 can't wait for some yeezy 510's
  • 1 0
 OMG geek shoes with a RAD logo what the *&$$#*(is going on
  • 1 0
 Soles will still fall off.
  • 1 0
 Let’s see a Boa clip version please!
  • 2 1
 Looks like something a pedophile would wear….
  • 1 0
 No love for the octogenarians today!
  • 1 0
 180$, no BOA, and special needs look, awesome!
  • 1 0
 These will be my next shoe purchase
  • 1 0
 These are gunna be great! Can’t wait!!
  • 1 0
 Costs about the same as my bike!
  • 1 0
 On the bright side you don't need to wear socks!
  • 1 0
 Idiot proof…… or is it?
  • 1 0
 You buy shoes like that you get a free bowl of soup
  • 1 0
 Function over form!?
  • 1 0
 Finally
  • 1 0
 Special Needs
  • 1 0
 Wank
  • 2 2
 RiP 510
  • 1 3
 I think I just thru-up
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